Check-holding device.



R. A. PROMM.

CHECK HOLDING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 20, 1913.

1, 1 O 1 ,426. v Patented June 23, 1921 4.

/ lO JO f a Firgj Q E a n6 5 /J' z7 2 g 8 ROBERT A. FROMM, OF DIAMOND, IOWA.

CHECK-HOLDING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1914.

Application filed December 20, 1913. Serial No. 808,050.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Ronngr A. FnoMM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Diamond, in the county of Appanoose and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Check-Holding Devices, of which the following is a specifica tion.

This invention relates to card or check holders especially intended for use on mining cars for holding the identification check in a manner to prevent its loss'which often occurs with the present use of bent nails or hooks, thus saving considerable time and avoiding much trouble. However, I desire it to be understood that I am not'pto be limited to this particular use as the device may be used for holding cards for various purposes.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the above mentioned character formed from a single piece of material provided with ameans for automatically locking the card or check within the holder, the locking-means being operable on insertion of the check in the holder, and so constructed to permit the ready removal of the card or check therefrom.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the class describedwherein the means employed for automatically locking the check within the holder may be released and'the card or check removed from the holder upon a single operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the class in question which is simple in construction, etficient in operation, easily manipulated for the purpose intended.

With these and .other objects in view which will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the combination. construction and arrangement of parts which are hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawing forming apart, of this application in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views; Figure 1 is a fragmentary view of a car showing my improved holder applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line a,a of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on line 6-?) of Fig.

1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on line (2-0 of Fig. 1.

As hereinabove stated the holder 5 is constructed from a single sheet of any suitable material preferably metal, and comprises a body portion 6 provided with an enlarged opening 7 adjacent the lower end thereof and bent to provide forwardly extending side walls 8 which terminate in inwardly directed flanges 9 which are spaced from the body portion 6 and define therewith channels 10 to slidably receive the card or check 11. The material forming the flange 9 is bent back upon itself. and then rear-' wardly against the side walls 8 terminating in laterally disposed attaching flanges 12 which are provided with openings 13 for the reception of suitable fastening elements by means of which the holder may be secured to the car or other suitable support. The upper edge of the body portion 6 is bent rearwardly as at 14 and downwardly as at 15 to provide a stiffening flange which bears against the side of the car or other suitable support with which the device is used, thus protecting the'upper portion of the body portion 6 from being bent in any manner.

which would obviously render it diflicult to insert the card. or check bet-ween the said flanges. The lower edge of the body portion 6 adjacent the opposite longitudinal edges thereof are formed with tongues 16 which are bent forwardly across the channels 10 thus closing the latter at the lower end and thence upwardly between the folded portion of the flanges 9. the said tongues forming stops to limit the movement of the card or check when the latter is inserted in the holder. As will be noted the attaching flanges 12 are disposed rearwardly of the body portion 6 in order that the said body portion 6 may be held properly spaced from the sideof the car or other support with which the device is used to provide space for the operation of the locking element 17 which will presently be described.

With a view of automatically locking the card or check within the holder I employ a leaf spring 18 which is secured at one end to the back side of the body portion 6 adjacent the upper edge thereof, the opposite end of the spring being formed with an offset portion 19 which normally projects through the opening 7 and through the opening 20 of the card or check when the said openings are arranged to register with each other. The ofiset portion 19 in the resent instance is shown as being substantia ly rectangular, the upper wall 21 of which is inclined downwardly for the purpose to be presently described. When it is desired to place a card or check within the holder the latter is placed between the channels 10 at the upper ends thereof and moved downwardly until the lower edge of the card or check abuts against th upper wall 21 of the ofiset portion 19. Now by a slight additional pressure upon the card or check and by reason of the inclination of the upper wall 21, the card will pass freely over the offset portion, and at the same time force the latter rearwardly under tension of the spring from within the opening 7 until the opening of the card or check registers with the opening 7 at which time the said'oifset portion under tension of the spring will be forced through the openings thus automatically locking the card within the holder. To remove the card or check from the holder it is only necessary to move the thumb or finger in an upward direction over the offset portion whereupon the latter will be forced rearwardly through the openings thus releasing the card orcheck which as will be understood may be withdrawn from theholder with the one movement of the thumb or finger. v

The lower wall '23 of the offset portion is oppositely inclined with respect to the upper wall 21 so that the lower wall on rearward movement of the member will not contact with the lower edge of the opening 7 thus preventing any binding between the parts. It will be further noted, however, that the opening 7 is to be made slightly larger than the offset portion to further provide for this end. The lower wall 23 terminates to pro vide a stop lug 24 for contactin engagement with the rear surface of the body portion to companying drawing the nature 'and advantages of the invention will be thoroughly understood without further explanation,

.and therefore the same has been omitted.

WVhile I have shown-and described the preferred form of my invention I desire to have it understood that I am not to be limited to the precise construction and arrange ment of parts herein shown, as the same is merely illustrative, and that various changes may bemade within the scope of the appended claim without departing from or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

What 'is claimed is: 1

' A card holder constructed from a single sheet of material, comprisinga body portion bent along its opposite longitudinal edges and formed to provide forwardly extending card receiving channels, the material forming the said channels bemg bent upon itself and extended to provide laterally disposed fianges which are spaced rearwardly of said body portion for connecting said holder to a support, a spring locking element secured on said body portion movable in the space therebetween and said support and having an offset portion projecting through the body portion for engagement with the card, and

a stiffening flange extending rearwardly from the upper edge of said body portion and terminating in the plane with said attaching flanges for engagement with said support for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my s ignature in presence of two witnesses. v

I ROBERT A. FROMM. W'itnesses I. H. MARTIN, JAMES HARTLEY. 

